Apparatus for loading containers

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for loading containers with single pieces by which a plurality of single pieces are stacked on top of each other and subsequently several stacks are assembled into a block having a size substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the freight space of the container. In one embodiment, the pieces are enveloped in plastic sheet prior to stacking. Two containers may be loaded alternately. The apparatus comprises one or several stacking devices for stacking the single pieces, a packing device if desired and various conveyors and transfer devices for feeding the stacks to a tilting frame on which the container may be mounted. Loading of the assembled blocks of single pieces into the container is effected by tilting the tilting frame. The drive means of the various devices may be coupled through control means to a common program controller.

United States Patent 091 Lassig r y I [451 Apr. 17, 1973 [54] APPARATUSFOR LOADING CONTAINERS 221 Filed: July 23,1971 21 Appl.No.: 165,677

301 ra-ei n Application Priority Data July 25, 1970 Germany ..r 20 37003.0

52 us, 01; ..s3/1s9,214/41 [51] 11.1. c1. .....n6sb3s/s2 [58] Field ofSearch 53/62, 159,164

[56] ReterencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,245,557 4/1966 Mammoteketal..2l4/6P 4/1960 Edmondsetal .53/155 "Primary Examiner-Travis S; McGeheeAssistant Examiner-John Sipos Attorney-Ernest F. Marmorek ABSTRACT Thereis disclosed a method andan apparatus for loading containers with singlepieces by which a plurality of single pieces are stacked on top of eachother and subsequently several stacks are assembled into a block havinga size substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the freightspace of the container. In one embodiment, the pieces are enveloped inplastic sheet prior to stacking. Two containers may be loadedalternately. The apparatus comprises one or several stacking devices forstacking the single pieces, a packing device if desired and variousconveyors and transfer devices for feeding the stacks to a tilting frameon which the container may be mounted. Loading of the assembled blocksof single pieces into the container is efl'ected by tilting the tiltingframe. The

drive means of the various devices may be coupled through control meansto a common program controller.

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w y W W a n DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesto a method and an apparatus for loading containers with single piecesassembled in stacks. l-leretofore, packing goods were stacked onpallets, and then these pallets were loaded into the containers. Adrawback of such an arrangement is, however, that the plan dimensions ofthe pallets are such that the container interior cannot be filledentirely with the goods stacked on pallets. The unoccupied spaces in thecontainers are then filled with air bags or the like, in order toprevent shifting of the contents therein. Such expedients and theuncomplete filling of the container interior render the transport ofpiece goods in containers uneconomical.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for loading containers with single piecesassembled in stacks, by which not only packages that are adapted tocontainer transport may be formed but also the packing goods may bearranged in a manner allowing to make use of the whole internal space ofthe container.

For achieving this object the present invention proposes a method ofloading containers with single pieces according to which for stackingtwo single pieces one on top of another, a single piece is withdrawnfrom a series of single pieces supplied and deposited on top of the nextfollowing single piece in the series, subsequently several stacksconsisting of two the width of the first-mentioned roller conveyoradjacent the stacking device, and transfer devices for the stacks formedof two single pieces one on top of the other whereby the roller tracksare mounted in carriage type frames movable by means of drive meanstransversely of the first-mentioned rollerconveyor; a pair of conveyorand connected at its lower side to a lifting device, a roller track inthe first section having rollers extending parallel to the rollers ofthe pair of roller tracks and a second frame section in the extension ofsingle pieces stacked one on top of the other are com- 7 bined side byside and one stack behind another stack into a block having a sizecorresponding to the internal dimensions of the container, and finallyconveying such blocks by means of gravity feed towards and into thecontainers. Prior to stacking the single pieces one on top of anotherthe single pieces may be enveloped in synthetic sheet. It is likewisefeasible, prior to preparing the stacks for'loading into the containers,to stack several single pieces one on top of another, in order to obtainstacks the height of which corresponds to the height of the containerinterior. If two containers are used, the containers are loadedalternately.

The apparatus according to the present invention for practicing themethod of loading containers with single pieces assembled in stacks ischaracterized by a roller conveyor having driven rollers for feedingsingle pieces; a stacking device for stackinga single piece on top ofanother single piece, the stacking device arranged adjacent the rollerconveyor and comprising a frame, a lifting platform vertically movablein the frame, lifting forks on the lifting platform at the end of theplatform facing the roller conveyor and adapted to be lowered betweenthe rollers of the roller conveyor when the lifting platform is in itslowered position, and control devices arranged adjacent the stackingdevice in the path of movement of the single pieces on the rollerconveyor and adapted to be actuated by the single pieces, the controldevices coupled to drive means for lifting and lowering the liftingplatform; a transfer and storage conveyor arranged transversely of theroller conveyor at the discharge side of the roller conveyor, thetransfer and storage conveyor comprising a the tilting frame rollertrack and which is arranged in the form of a support plate for acontainer.

For stacking several single pieces one on top of another, there may bearranged, according to another feature of the present invention, severalstacking devices adjacent the first-mentioned roller conveyor.

For alternately loading two conveyors, the rollers of i the pair ofroller tracks of the transfer and storage conveyor may be mounted,according to another feature of the present invention, in the movablecarriage type frames such that when moving the pair of roller tracksthese rollers may pass between the rollers of the firstmentioned rollerconveyor which extends intermediate of the pair of roller tracks of thetransfer and storage conveyor whereby the discharge ends of the rollertracks for feeding the single pieces extend into the spacing between thepair of roller tracks of the transfer,

and storage conveyor. 1

For loading the containers with single pieces packed in synthetic sheetwhereby such single pieces may also be assembled in stacks if the singlepieces are of a smaller size, a device of a type known per se forpacking the single pieces in synthetic sheet or heat shrinkablethermoplastic sheet may be mounted upstream of the roller conveyorhaving the stacking devices adjacent thereto.

According to another feature of the present invention the drive means ofthe stacking devices, of the pair of movable roller tracks of thetransfer and storage conveyor, of the tilting frames with thecontainers, of the transfer devices for transferring; the stacks fromthe movable roller tracks of the transfer and storage conveyor onto theroller tracks of the tilting frames, and of the first-mentioned rollerconveyor are coupled to control means for controlling the variousmovements, and the control means are combined in a program controller'.

The appended drawing shows a perspective view of an embodiment of anapparatus for loading containers with single pieces assembled in stacksaccording to the present invention. In the drawing, FIG. 1a is aleft-hand section of the apparatus, and

FIG. lb is a right-hand section of the same apparatus as seen from thedashed dividing line.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a' roller conveyor 10for feeding a series of single pieces B one following another. Therollers ll 1 of the roller conveyor 10 are preferably individuallypower-driven and feed the single pieces in the direction of the arrowat.

The discharge side of the roller conveyor is designated by 100.

A device for stacking two single pieces E one on top of another isarranged adjacent the roller conveyor 10 and comprises a frame 16 with alifting platform 17 which may be raised and lowered by means of a drivemotor 19. The free end 17a of the lifting platform 17 facing the rollerconveyor 10 is provided with lifting forks 17b adapted to be loweredbetween the rollers 11 of the roller conveyor 10 so that in the lowerposition of the lifting platform 17 the lifting forks are interposedbetween the rollers 11 of the roller conveyor 10. A single piece whichhas been moved into a position overlying the lifting forks 17b will belifted off the roller conveyor 10 when raising the lifting platform 17.The single piece is lifted by the lifting platform 17 into an elevatedposition in which the lifted single piece is elevated above a nextfollowing single piece fed by the roller conveyor 10. Control devices18, preferably in the form of light barriers on either side of theroller conveyor 10 and adapted to control the lifting platform l7'aremounted in the vicinity of the stacking device 15. These control devices18 may be actuated by single pieces supplied by the roller conveyor 10and are connected to the power drive 19 for raising and lowering thelifting platform 17.

If it is desired to stack several single pieces one on top of another,several stacking devices 15 may be arranged adjacent the roller conveyor10.

A transfer and storage conveyor 20 is arranged transversely of theroller conveyor 10 at the discharge end 10a thereof. By means of thetransfer and storage conveyor20 single pieces already assembled instacks may be directed to the various containers on the one hand, andstacks assembled to blocks B may be prepared and made ready for loadingon the other hand. These blocks B- correspond in their sizes to thedimensions of the containers to be loaded. This transfer and storageconveyor 20. consists of a pair of roller tracks 21, 22 mounted onebehind the other with an intermediate spacing correspondingapproximately to the width of the roller conveyor 10. The roller tracks21, 22 with their driven rollers 23, 24 are mounted in carriage typeframes 27, 28 which are movable on guide rails transversely of theroller conveyor 10 by means of drive means 27a, 28a. Transfer devices25, 26 are arranged in the vicinity of the roller tracks 21, 22. Eachtransfer device consists of a push plate connected by actuation links toa drive means such as a jack or the like. Alternatively, instead of themovable roller tracks 21, 22 there may also be provided other suitablemeans for transferring the single pieces assembled in stacks S onto theone or the other end of the transfer and storage conveyor 20. The rollerconveyor 10 preferably extends into the clearance between the pair ofroller tracks 21, 22. The rollers 23, 24 of the pair of roller tracks21, 22 of the transfer and storage conveyor 20 are mounted in themovable carriage type frames 27, 28 in such a manner that the rollers23, 24 may pass between the rollers 11 of the roller conveyor 10 whenshifting the roller tracks 21, 22. Entrainment dogs (not shown) at themovable carriage type frames 27, 28 serve to take along the stacks Swhen moving the roller tracks 21, 22.

A pair of parallel spaced tilting frames 30, 31 are mounted such thatthe one end of each tilting frame is opposite to an outer end portion ofa roller track 21, 22 of the pair of roller tracks so that stacks Sresting on the roller tracks 21, 22 may be transferred onto thesetilting frames 30, 31 by means of the transfer devices 25, 26. Insteadof using the transfer devices 25, 26 for transferring the stacks S, therollers 23, 24 of the roller tracks 21, 22 may be power-driven. Thetilting frames 30, 31 are tiltably mounted in the vicinity of their midportions in suitable bearing blocks 32, 33. The frame sections 30a, 31aof the frames 30, 31 facing the transfer and storage conveyor 20 areeach provided with a roller track 35, 36 respectively, and the rollers37, 38 in these roller tracks 35, 36 extend parallel to the rollers 23,24 of the roller tracks 21, 22 of the transfer and storage conveyor 20and the rollers 11 of the roller conveyor 10. The tilting frames 30, 31are each connected, at the lower side of the section containing theroller track 35, 36, with a lifting device of which the lifting device34 for the tilting frame 30 may be seen in the drawing. The rollertracks 35, 36 extend along about the front halves of the tilting frames30, 31 respectively, i.e., those frame sections facing the transfer andstorage conveyor 20. The rear halves of the tilting frames 30, 31, i.e.,the frame sections 30b, 31b are arranged in the form of support plates40, 41 for the containers C.

If the singe pieces or single pieces assembled in stacks intended to beloaded into the containers C areto be packed in sheeting a device of atype known per se for'packing the single pieces in synthetic sheeting isarranged upstream of the roller conveyor 10. This packing device 50consists of a frame 51 with two feed tracks 52, 53 for feeding thepacking good in the directions of the arrows x and x,. A sheeting supplydrum 54 is mounted in the upper portion of the frame 51, and anothersheeting supply drum 55 is mounted in the lower portion of the frame 51.The sheeting F is guided by a corresponding number of deflector rollersin such a manner that a sheeting wall is formed transversely of the feeddirection of the packing good. The packing good is then advanced intothis sheeting wall by means of transfer devices not shown in the drawingbut which may be formed similar to the transfer devices 25, 26. From thefeed tracks 52, 53 the packing good is transferred onto a dischargeconveyor 57. A welding device 56 is mounted between the sheeting walland the discharge conveyor 57. The welding device 56 comprises an upperand a lower welding jaw. These two welding jaws are coupled to drivemeans for moving the welding jaws towards and away from each other. Thewelding device 56 is furthermore provided with a severing device such asevering knife, a hot wire or the like by means of which the packinggood enveloped in the sheet may be severed from the sheeting supplysubsequently to the welding operation. Preferably the welding jaws ofthe welding device 56 are of a type producing a double weld. Severing ofthe sheet sleeve from the sheeting supply will then be effected betweenthese two welds.

Further welding devices 58, 59 are arranged on either side of thedischarge conveyor 57. The additional welding devices are of a typesimilar to the welding device 56 and serve to seal the lateral openedges of the sheet Sleeve enveloping the packing good. If the packingsheet consists of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic synthetic sheetinganother feed conveyor 60 and a shrinkage tunnel 61 are arrangeddownstream of the discharge conveyor 57. This feed conveyor 60 is thenfollowed at its downstream side by the roller conveyor 10.

The drive means of the stacking device 15, of the movable roller tracks21, 22 of the transfer and storage conveyor 20, of the tilting frames30, 31 with the containers thereon, of the transfer devices 25, 26 andof the rollers of the roller conveyor are coupled to control means (notshown), and the control means are combined in a program controller (notshown). The program controller may also serve to control the controlmembers of the packing device 50 which is mounted on the upstream sideof the loading apparatus so that the entire packing and loadingoperation may be centrally controlled and performed in a fully automaticmanner.

The operation of the loading apparatus according to the presentinvention is as follows: The non-packed or sheet-packed single pieces Eor single pieces assembled in stacks are supplied to the stacking deviceby means of the roller conveyor 10. When actuating the control members18, the respective single piece is lifted by the stacking device 15 anddeposited on top of the next following single piece in the series ofsingle pieces supplied. The control members 18 may also be coupled to astepping mechanism (not shown) which controls the incremental feed ofthe single pieces E and the raising and lowering of the lifting platform17 of the stacking device 15. The single pieces E assembled in stacks Sare then transported by means of the roller conveyor 10 to the transferand storage conveyor 20 and are moved by the latter towards the conveyorsection opposite to the container which is to be loaded. The stacks Sare then transferred by means of the transfer device 26 onto the rollertrack 36 of the tilting frame 31 and on this roller track 36 assembledto a block B which at the end of the assembling operation is of a sizecorresponding to the dimensions of the interior of the container C.During the stacking of the individual stacks S into a block B, thetilting frame 31 is in a horizontal position. During transfer of theblock B into the container C which is open at its near end the transferand storage conveyor 20 is shifted so that any further stacks S suppliedmay be transferred onto the roller track 35 of the tilting frame 30.After assembly of the block B on the roller track 36 the tilting frame31 is tilted by means of the lifting device associated therewith, i.e.,the roller track 36 with the block B of single pieces assembled thereonis lifting so thatthe block B is transferred by gravity into thecontainer C. The tilting frame 30 is shown in this loading position inthe drawing.

By alternately loading two containers C in using a transfer and storageconveyor an economical loading of containers may be achieved, theloading may be carried out in a minimum time and with a very highefficiency.

'By assembling the single pieces E to stacks S or blocks B respectivelyit is moreover possible to make use of the entire interior space of thecontainers C so that no available loading space is wasted. If the singlepieces consist for example of sacks these single pieces may also beassembled in compound stacks. By the fact that the single pieces or thesingle stacks are wrapped in plastic sheet no pallets need to beemployed. Single pieces having various sizes may likewise be assembledby means of the apparatus of the present invention in a manner achievingan efficient utilization of the containers. The transfer and storageconveyor 20 furthermore allows to reject single pieces having a sizeunsuitable for assembling an integral block of a size corresponding asnearly as possible to the interior dimensions of the container, and toset such single pieces aside for assembling another block B to be loadedinto the second container. The various devices of the overall apparatusmay also be combined in a single machine frame.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for stacking and subsequently loading pieces into acontainer,

comprising, in combination,

a first conveyor operable for feeding successive pieces in onedirection,

a stacking device disposed near the first conveyor and being operablefor lifting a piece from the feeding conveyor and stacking; it onanother piece;

control means operative for controlling the operation of the stackingdevice in response tothe position on the conveyor in its movement insaid one direction of a succeeding piece prior to its reaching thestacking device,

a a second conveyor cooperating with a discharging part of the firstconveyor to receive therefrom succeeding stacks and to move the stacksin a direction at an angle to said one direction,

at least one support movable between a transfer position in which it isoperable to receive at one portion stacks from the second conveyor and,respectively, a loading position at an angle to said transfer position,and

transfer means operable for transferring the stacks from the secondconveyor onto said one portion of the support when the support is in thetransfer position,

said support being adapted to support at another portion a container,whereby during movement of said support from said transfer position tosaid loading position, the stacks will be shifted from said one portionof the support towards said other portion and be loaded into thecontainer.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first conveyor is aroller conveyor, said stacking device being arranged adjacent the rollerconveyor and comprising a frame, a lifting platform vertically movablein said frame, lifting forks on said lifting platform at the end of theplatform facing the roller conveyor and adapted to be lowered betweenthe rollers of the roller conveyor when the lifting platform is in itslowered position,

said control means including control devices arranged adjacent thestacking device in the path of movement of the single pieces on theroller conveyor and adapted to be actuated by the single pieces, thecontrol devices coupled to drive means for lifting and lowering thelifting platform; said second conveyor being a transfer and storageconveyor arranged transversely of the roller conveyor at the dischargeside of the roller conveyor,

I and including a pair of roller tracks arranged one behind the otherwith an intermediate spacing corresponding substantially to the width ofsaid first roller conveyor adjacent the stacking device, and transferdevices for the stacks formed of two single pieces one on top of theother whereby said roller tracks are mounted in carriage type framesmovable by means of drive means transversely of said first rollerconveyor; 10

said support including a pair of tilting frames tiltable about their midportions and arranged such that each tilting frame is opposite to anouter end portion of one roller track of said pair of roller tracks ofsaid transfer and storage conveyor and extends transversely thereof,each tilting frame including a first frame section facing the transferand storage conveyor and connected at its lower side to a liftingdevice, a roller track in said first section having rollers extendingparallel to the rollers of said pair of roller tracks and a second framesection in the extension of the tilting frame roller track and which isarranged in the form of a support plate for a container.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein several 4. An apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein the rollers of the pair of roller tracks of the transferand storage conveyor are mounted in the movable carriage type framessuch that when moving said pair of roller tracks these rollers may passbetween the rollers of the first-mentioned roller conveyor which extendsintermediate of said pair of roller tracks of said transfer and storageconveyor.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 further including a device for packing thesingle pieces in synthetic sheet or heat shrinkable thermoplastic sheet,said device being mounted upstream of the first conveyor and operablefor supplying a succession of packed single pieces thereon.

6. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the drive means of the stackingdevice, of the pair of movable roller tracks of the transfer and storageconveyor, of the tilting frames with the containers, of the transferdevices for transferring the stacks from the movable roller tracks ofthe transfer and storage conveyor onto the roller tracks of the tiltingframes, and of the firstmentioned roller conveyor are coupled toadditional control means for controlling the various movements, and thecontrol means are combined in a program controller.

7. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the rollers in said pair of rollertracks are individually power-driven.

1. An apparatus for stacking and subsequently loading pieces into acontainer, comprising, in combination, a first conveyor operable forfeeding successive pieces in one direction, a stacking device disposednear the first conveyor and being operable for lifting a piece from thefeeding conveyor and stacking it on another piece; control meansoperative for controlling the operation of the stacking device inresponse to the position on the conveyor in its movement in said onedirection of a succeeding piece prior to its reaching the stackingdevice, a second conveyor cooperating with a discharging part of thefirst conveyor to receive therefrom succeeding stacks and to move thestacks in a direction at an angle to said one direction, at least onesupport movable between a transfer poSition in which it is operable toreceive at one portion stacks from the second conveyor and,respectively, a loading position at an angle to said transfer position,and transfer means operable for transferring the stacks from the secondconveyor onto said one portion of the support when the support is in thetransfer position, said support being adapted to support at anotherportion a container, whereby during movement of said support from saidtransfer position to said loading position, the stacks will be shiftedfrom said one portion of the support towards said other portion and beloaded into the container.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid first conveyor is a roller conveyor, said stacking device beingarranged adjacent the roller conveyor and comprising a frame, a liftingplatform vertically movable in said frame, lifting forks on said liftingplatform at the end of the platform facing the roller conveyor andadapted to be lowered between the rollers of the roller conveyor whenthe lifting platform is in its lowered position, said control meansincluding control devices arranged adjacent the stacking device in thepath of movement of the single pieces on the roller conveyor and adaptedto be actuated by the single pieces, the control devices coupled todrive means for lifting and lowering the lifting platform; said secondconveyor being a transfer and storage conveyor arranged transversely ofthe roller conveyor at the discharge side of the roller conveyor, andincluding a pair of roller tracks arranged one behind the other with anintermediate spacing corresponding substantially to the width of saidfirst roller conveyor adjacent the stacking device, and transfer devicesfor the stacks formed of two single pieces one on top of the otherwhereby said roller tracks are mounted in carriage type frames movableby means of drive means transversely of said first roller conveyor; saidsupport including a pair of tilting frames tiltable about their midportions and arranged such that each tilting frame is opposite to anouter end portion of one roller track of said pair of roller tracks ofsaid transfer and storage conveyor and extends transversely thereof,each tilting frame including a first frame section facing the transferand storage conveyor and connected at its lower side to a liftingdevice, a roller track in said first section having rollers extendingparallel to the rollers of said pair of roller tracks and a second framesection in the extension of the tilting frame roller track and which isarranged in the form of a support plate for a container.
 3. An apparatusas in claim 1 wherein several stacking devices are arranged adjacent thefirst conveyor.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the rollers of thepair of roller tracks of the transfer and storage conveyor are mountedin the movable carriage type frames such that when moving said pair ofroller tracks these rollers may pass between the rollers of thefirst-mentioned roller conveyor which extends intermediate of said pairof roller tracks of said transfer and storage conveyor.
 5. An apparatusas in claim 1 further including a device for packing the single piecesin synthetic sheet or heat shrinkable thermoplastic sheet, said devicebeing mounted upstream of the first conveyor and operable for supplyinga succession of packed single pieces thereon.
 6. An apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein the drive means of the stacking device, of the pair ofmovable roller tracks of the transfer and storage conveyor, of thetilting frames with the containers, of the transfer devices fortransferring the stacks from the movable roller tracks of the transferand storage conveyor onto the roller tracks of the tilting frames, andof the first-mentioned roller conveyor are coupled to additional controlmeans for controlling the various movements, and the control means arecombined in a program controller.
 7. An apparatus as in claim 2 whereinthe rollers in said pair of rolLer tracks are individually power-driven.